Using Theatrical Stage Magic to Assess Cognitive Development

Join us on a whimsical journey using magic and mayhem to as a psychological evaluation tool. A satirical look at the world of assessment and evaluation of the inner workings of the mind through the use of stage magic.In working our way towards setting up the evaluation, I found myself in a most difficult position of trying to explain to my family of this appraisal of the mind that I wanted to conduct. I could sense by the questions they were asking my wife, that they were growing more and more concerned as the conversation wore on. What kind of results was I looking for? Would there be any discomfort involved? What was the outcome I was looking for? Are there any costs involved?I could see my wife growing tired of playing the role of middle man in trying to sell the idea to her brother on the telephone. Suddenly, the perfect answer seemed to present itself on the spur of the moment.Like a delicious steak suddenly appearing to the stranded tourist lost in a sea of desert sand, the perfect solution to our spiraling conundrum instantly flashed before my eyes. I asked my wife to hand me the telephone, and I blurted out that we are offering to come over to their home and conduct a small magic show for them. Just like real magic, these ten words suddenly transformed the energy of the conversation quite noticeably. Sure enough, he agreed. As one subterfuge seemed to lead to another, I continued the thinly veiled ruse by further stating that it would be an educational format and that I was looking to try out some new ideas for teaching some concepts such as sharing is caring, nurturing self-esteem and helpful concepts along those lines.Once again, the visual cortex loaned me yet another helping hand, and the brain flashed on the screen a video clip of me teaching the children how to perform a magic trick, so that I might prod here and there in hopes of uncovering some deep psychological nuggets of truth. Indeed, the subterfuge seemed to be taking on a life of its own, as I found that my own excitement level was intensifying as I was growing in admiration of the sheer cleverness of implementing the covert cover of using a magic show as a diversionary tool for conducting psychological research among O.P.C. (hereinafter a reference for "Other People's Children").Sure enough, my Kreskin-like ability for sensing that this deal would be closed within a few minutes had truly come to pass. (I quickly thought to myself, now if I only I could enhance my Kreskin abilities by duplicating his world famous stage illusion of being able to find a paycheck that might be hidden anywhere among the audience members.) The tide had turned and they seemed excited that Mr. Magic would be coming over to the house to entertain them. Now I found that I also was growing in enthusiasm for the undertaking as I now had the challenging mission of reviewing and hunting for those assessment techniques which might correspond with some magic trick that I had collecting dust among the countless magic effects scattered all throughout my ever shrinking domicile. I smiled to myself, as comical visions danced through my mind of psychologists all over the world one day employing a similar subterfuge of magical mayhem serving to disguise a psychological intrusion and exploration into the minds of both adult and child audience members, without any of them ever knowing that their inner processes had been probed and duly mapped without ever a wary parent raising a single solitary suspect concern. That is surely one of the great features and benefits of possessing the skill set of being a modern day conjuror and prestidigitator.